Arabesk Studies in Damascus:::Living in Damascus

Now in Damascus (end June 2009, around 32 students): Matthew Ong – USA – LA (since Sept 08, 1 year, package 3m private courses + accommodation), Dominic Taylor – UK – London – mid Sept – 7 months, Zainab – UK – London (since January 2009 - 6 months), Marko Koplimaa – Estonia – Feb 09 – 6 months (full package in Damascus University + accommodation), Hugo Legge – UK - Leeds (since February, from scratch – 5,5 months), Robert Payne – USA – LA – Feb - 6 months (senior student 60 year old), Rumaldo – Usa – Houston - March – 1 year (), Bettina Tam – Canada / Hong Kong – Swarthmore Univ – end May 2 month (only family accommodation in Baramka), Marie Bush - USA / California – mid May - 2-3 months (), Cory Frey - USA / Delaware – June - 1 year (arabic program in Damascus University, Living and Practicing accommodation for 3-6 months + private teacher), Joel – Princeton (several times in Damascus: Oct 2006 for 6 months, January 08, August 08 + June 09) – 1 month (research with private teacher + accommodation), Ron Stein – USA / Appleton WI – June 3 weeks (package of private studies 3h/day + accommodation "Living with teacher"), Alexander Bevilacqua - Italy studying in Princeton Univ – mid June – 2 months (special package 4h a day intensive private lessons with 2 teachers), Jessica Heinzelman – USA – SF – mid June – 3 months (studies in Damascus University, family accommodation and private tuitions), Schuyler – USA – NC Durham – mid June – 1 year (arabic courses in Damascus University, Living and Practicing accommodation for 3 months + private teacher 3 days a week), Maryama – France – living and working in London – mid June – 2 months (University of Damascus), Alain Vignier (senior student 68 year old) – France – Rennes – end June -1 month (advanced level), 7 students from Spain – Madrid – end June for 1-2 months: Sandra Sesmero + Ana Municio + Maria Gil + Maria Laburu + Isabel Palomo (girls live in Syrian families) + Manuel Mane for 6 months + Cristian Far (19 year only), Barnaby – UK – working in Bruxelles – end June – 1 month, Matteo Colombo – Italy – studying in Oxford University, Siavash Samei – Usa – Georgia – end June – 2,5 months (advanced level), Mohana – USA living in Qatar – Doha – end June – 1 month, Jana – Czech Rep - Plzen - end June – 2 months (advanced level), Amina – Switzerland – Geneva – end June – 1 month (19 year), Kamila - Czech Rep – Hradec Kralove - end June – 1 month, Kandia – France – Paris – end June – 3 months, Maria Dolores – Spain – Granada – end June – 1 month (private tuitions only),

In July - August 2009 (already around 15 students): Brian Brennan (senior student 61 year old) – Australia – Sydney – July - 1 month (second time in Damascus after August 2006, intensive private studies), Christian Sahner – USA - Princeton / studying now in Oxford Univ (intensive private studies 4 hours a day), Diane Jousson – Switzerland – Geneve – July – 3 months, Rosa Martinez (56 y old) – Spain – Granada – mid July – 2 weeks (private lessons), David Crosbie – Canada – living in Dubai, mid July – 1 month , Benedetta – Italy – Venecia – mid July – 1 month , Michele Steiner - Switzerland – Berne, mid July – 1 month, Carmen Clavel – Spain – Alicante – August – 1 month (second time in Damascus after summer 2008), Bart - Belgium – BXL - August – 1 month , Yvon - France – August – 1 month (), Olivier - France – studying in Cambridge Univ – August – 1 month , Michal Pesta – Poland – Aug – 2 weeks (arabic private tuitions), Marco Perolini – Belgium – BXL – August – 3 weeks (arabic private teacher), Adrian Masip – Spain living in Abu Dhabi – August – 3 weeks (arabic private course), Christina Guillaume (adult student 61y) – France – Paris – end August – 3 weeks.

and many more to confirm for the fall (Sept/Oct) of the year 2009, Insha Allah ! .... Heinz Heule from Switzerland – Basel – end Sept – 2 weeks (second time in Damascus), Gundi - Switzerland – Berne – end Sept – 2 weeks (second time in Damascus), Maggy - Switzerland – Lausanne – October – 1 month (third time in Damascus), Daniela - Italian living in Switzerland – Zurich – mid October – 1 month (second time in Damascus).

Living in Damascus:

Living in Damascus is great. People in Syria are very nice, friendly, welcoming, and curious, and one makes friends very quickly. Syrians have the traditional values of hospitality and generosity, and treat their foreign guests with great respect.

Furthermore, security is maximum. Syria is considered by the United Nations as one of the safest countries in the world, free from crime, insecurity and fear (no theft, no violence, no arms, no drugs). Students will really feel at home, or even better.

The cost of living in Syria is low, much lower than Western countries or Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, or the Arabian Gulf countries. Life is affordable: eating, transportation, accommodation.

Syria is a relatively developed country. For alimentation, fruits and vegetables are abundant, fresh, very tasty as they are naturally produced. For cow meat and milk, there is few because of the climate but chicken, sheep meat are common (even camel).

The bank system is not very developed, but we can find some offices for international transfer (with a commission, as Western Union). Dont bring traveler cheques.

The use of Internet is developed, we find many Internet cafes everywhere.

The weather in Damascus is exceptionally good. 320 days a year there is nice weather. In winter, it is quite cold (cold but dry and sunny) and summers are very hot (35C, but dry heat so easily bearable). Nice seasons (spring and autumn) are long and nice.

Important notice about Dressing:

For the clothes, Syria and specially Damascus, is quite conservative. It is a Muslim country, where the culture, the values and principles are very alive and strong. The best is Respect to be respected.

For the women for example, The most suitable is large clothes, cotton for the summer. Short or medium dresses, naked shoulders, bermudas, tide cloth are not indicated (even though some few syrian girls wear very stretch clothes, it is not the common way).

For men, it is easier: you just have to avoid shorts, bermudas and short trousers. Here, as you will see, all men wear long trousers (and oftenly with another thin trouser under). Even when the sun is very hot, few people go with naked legs, only "machos" or playboys (and some tourists!!).